CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA: LESSONS FROM BRAZIL

The study comparatively investigated the challenges to sustainable agricultural policy
development in Nigeria, using Brazil as example. It reviewed literatures from World Bank,
Brazil Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria Ministry of
Agriculture and food security, African continental free trade agreement, among others. The
study found that Brazil is a torch bearer in sustainable agricultural practice in the world,
successfully converted their forest, degraded land, environmental problem and food insecurity
to abundance and success and have become a reference point to many countries, including
Nigeria. Though, Nigeria and Brazil share similarity in Population and colonization, but Brazil
have out-paced and has become competitive and become one of the leading exporters of
agricultural products in the world. It was also found that regarding agricultural contribution to
Gross Domestic Product across countries, Nigeria fared better but looking at the agribusiness
end of the value chain or value addition, Brazil has done incredibly well and occupies envious
position. Nigeria still has a lot to learn from Brazil, no wonder the recent collaboration that has
yielded about $1billion dollar intervention in order for Nigeria to deal with food security,
research and development and Green Imperative Program. It was recommended that for Nigeria
prosper in area of food security and be competitive in the global market like Brazil, addressing
these challenges will require sustained efforts from the government, private sector participation,
and collaboration among stakeholders to unlock the full potential of Nigerian agriculture and
drive economic growth. Productivity and sustainability must be the foundation for future
agricultural development. In this scenario, agricultural technology will play the major role.